Building Rider Confidence Over Fences

Jumping is definitely a game of confidence and, since riding is a team sport, both the rider and the horse must be confident. Here are some thoughts for the rider.

The biggest mistake I see is jumping too high too soon. All the great jumper riders I have studied school over relatively small obstacles until their horses are completely comfortable. Then, when the basics are firmly in place, adding height is just a natural progression.

The best way to gain confidence over fences is successful practice. Although I believe, along with many other trainers, that jump practice should be supervised, there are many exercises you can do on your own to develop skills essential for jumping. I will give you one that I learnt from Mark Laskin. It is preferable to use a steady, honest horse who allows you to concentrate on your riding, but if your horse is inexperienced and/or hot, just take your time and keep everything low-key and he will soon settle. And also remember, whether doing flatwork or jumping, always wear a correctly fitted ASTM-approved helmet and boots with heels.

The most essential element to successful jumping is a secure position, so that you are able to follow your horse’s movement, stay in balance with him during all phases of the jump, and return smoothly to the saddle on landing, ready to ride the corner or whatever is coming next. If you lose your balance and tip forward or back, keep the jumps low until your position improves and hold a little mane so you don’t punish your horse.

The exercise:

On a circle (20 metres or larger), place jump standards at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions and lay a pole on the ground between each set of standards. If you like, later you can substitute small (one-foot) cross-poles, but keep everything else the same.

What to do:

Pick up a balanced canter and assume your two-point position. Ride the first half-circle counting strides until you cross the first pole, then try to put in the same number of strides to the second pole.

What’s important:

1. the shape of the circle must be regular
2. all the strides should be the same length
3. execute a crest or automatic release each time you cross the pole/jump
4. change direction often, working equally on the right and left leads.

For variety, sink into a three-point position to ride the curve and resume two-point over the pole. Aim to complete 3 or 4 circles without stopping. Incidentally, lots of riders worry about "finding a distance" – if you establish a regular, balanced pace, the distance will take care of itself.

And, finally, if you are ever afraid to jump, please tell your trainer! Fear should never enter the picture. It’s not a question of courage, but of correct preparation. Don’t get psyched into jumping higher than you feel comfortable with. Jumping should be enjoyable, not something you dread. If you ride in group lessons, it may be difficult for your instructor to keep everyone progressing at the same pace. It’s up to you to let him or her know when you are not comfortable. And if your trainer won’t listen, look for one who will. Riding in fear is the quickest way to lose confidence, is totally unnecessary and unsafe. At the end of a lesson, I like to see my students with big smiles on their faces, patting their horses and thinking they can’t wait to do it all again. After all, riding should be FUN!

Gordon Black

CEF-certified Coach